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<p>Since this is the financial aid forum…I’m going to say…you need to go to a college where you and your family will be able to pay the bills for all four years. You will find that there are excellent learning opportunities at many instate public universities. Sure, some of the private schools are great…but not if you can’t pay for them.</p>
<p>NOW…having said that…need based financial aid is largely based on the income and assets of your parents. These will be used to determine what minimally your family contribution will be. Some schools use only the FAFSA, but others use the CSS Profile in addition which goes into more depth with regard to finances than the FAFSA does.</p>
<p>You might want to run your family’s financial figures through an online EFC calculator to get a GUESTIMATE of what the colleges will minimally expect your family to pay. I say…minimally because most schools do not meet full financial need for all students so you might actually be expected to pay your EFC plus whatever the school does not give you in need based/merit aid awards.</p>
<p>So…talk to your parents. Get a ballpark figure of what they are able to help you with for college expenses…then look for schools. I would start with your instate public universities. Then read the threads by momfromtexas…they are OLD but the strategies she used to find generous MERIT aid for her kids is timeless.</p>